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International Women's Day: Every Rwandan woman counts
Every
year, on March 8, the world celebrates the achievements of women. Nations
celebrate the progress made to date, and reflect on the outstanding hurdles
that still need to be tackled towards gender equality.
In
Rwanda, International Women’s Day represents the struggles, perseverance and
determination of women because the development of each and every Rwandan woman means
an entire nation’s development.
In
this regard, the Rwandan government has embarked on a journey of creating and
supporting women to tap into the existing opportunities for growth and
development so as to effectively contribute to the country’s transformational
journey.
Rwanda
is renowned as a pioneer for gender equality. In 2022, Rwanda was ranked in the
top 10 of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report. It was ranked in
the top four in the report’s political empowerment category, in recognition of
the high proportion of Rwandan women lawmakers and ministers.
To
date, Rwanda is the world leader by having many females in parliament, 61.3% in
the lower house, and 38.8% in the Senate. In the cabinet, women and men have
equal representation.
This
is a globally celebrated move. Rwanda’s stand is; the right policy frameworks,
politics and legal reforms will assure equal rights and opportunities for men
and women.
However,
narrowing the gender gaps and inequality requires both commitment and actions.
This is why Rwanda is making great strides in empowering women and girls, be it
in politics, in business, and in science and technology.
Women
entrepreneurs in Rwanda penetrate all businesses industries. They play a
critical role in socio-economic development. By 2020, 33 per cent of the
country’s enterprises were owned by women, among them; micro, small, and medium
enterprises were owed by women at 32 per cent.
Through
different programs streamlined to meet the needs of women owned businesses,
Rwanda invests in effective and tailored support to women entrepreneurs,
especially in the coffee and horticulture sectors.
As
we come towards the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rwandan women - especially
women entrepreneurs - have been proportionally affected by the health crisis,
effecting the government of Rwanda to allocate part of its $250 million
economic recovery fund to the working capital of women-owned businesses. This shows
Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring that no woman is left behind in the post-pandemic
economic recovery.
Rwanda
is spurring a generation of women in technology, and it has been a champion of
women in ICT and in the fields of science, technology, engineering and
mathematics. This is done by driving initiatives like the establishment of
high-level universities and encouraging girls’ enrollment.
International
Women’s Day is a reminder to support and uplift women in every sector. And, in Rwanda, every woman counts.
Rwandans
have learnt that equality is a right not a favour.
Rwandans
are working to ensure that the next generations of women and girls inherit a
nation where their aspirations have no limits.